College of Education staff member receives Auburn’s Spirit of Excellence Award for dedicated work

No matter the challenge, Quin Allen is up for the job and is ready to answer the call. 

“If someone needs something, they know they can come to me because if I don’t immediately have the answer or can’t find it in any of my detailed notes, then I will seek out the answer or advise them who to contact to get the answer,” Allen said. “I enjoy a challenge and completing it or attacking a problem and defeating it.”

On a daily basis, Allen does just that in her financial associate II role in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching for Auburn’s College of Education. 

“Every aspect of my position is centered around providing a service to my cohorts,” she said. “Whether it be advising someone on AU policies, or providing them with their account balances, or cleaning up after a working meal meeting, I enjoy it all. I love helping others and having answers.”

Recently, that hard work was recognized as Allen received Auburn’s Spirit of Excellence Award this past semester. Her supervisor, Paul Fitchett, professor and head of the Department of Curriculum and Teaching, nominated her for the award along with others. 

“Quin has proven to be an integral staff member in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching,” he said. “She has contributed input to several changes in our department’s operations, leading to administrative optimization. We are lucky to have her in the unit.”

Allen’s job responsibilities are many. She prepares, examines, codes and processes forms, vouchers and reports for financial transactions. She also assists with budget preparation and analysis and advises Fitchett about the development and implementation of new systems and workflow processes. Additionally, she manages the receiving, auditing and reporting of funds into a financial accounting system and assists as a liaison involving contract proposals. She even supervises two federal work study students each semester.

“I have been very fortunate to work with such a great group of people who all enjoy helping each other if needed,” she said. “We are a great group that work well together and have a supervisor with whom we feel we can easily talk to.” 

Allen, who began in her role in 2010, said receiving the Spirit of Excellence Award means a lot and is reaffirming of her hard work. 

“To receive this award encourages me to live up to what it represents, to do and be my best,” she said. “And it lifts my spirit to have others I work with think that well of me that they’d take the time out of their busy, hectic schedules to type up and submit a nomination highlighting what I do that has touched them and made things better for them when doing their job.”

As for what she loves most about Auburn and the College of Education, she had a quick answer: “The positive and happy people helping each other daily to make a lasting impact on our students and employees!”